1God, give the king the ability to judge fairly. He is your royal son. Help him to do what is right.2May he rule your people in the right way. May he be fair to those among your people who are hurting.3May the mountains and the hills produce rich crops, because the people will do what is right.4May the king stand up for those who are hurting. May he save the children of those who are in need. May he crush those who treat others badly.5May the king rule as long as the sun shines and the moon gives its light. May he rule for all time to come.6May he be like rain falling on the fields. May he be like showers watering the earth.7May godly people do well as long as he rules. May they have more than they need as long as the moon lasts.8May the king rule from sea to sea. May his kingdom reach from the River Euphrates to the ends of the earth.9May the desert tribes bow down to him. May his enemies lick the dust.10May the kings of Tarshish and of places far away bring him gifts. May the kings of Sheba and Seba give him presents.11May all kings bow down to him. May all nations serve him.12The king will save needy people who cry out to him. He will save those who are hurting and have no one else to help.13He will take pity on those who are weak and in need. He will save them from death.14He will save them from people who treat others badly. He will save them from people who do mean things to them. Their lives are very special to him.15May the king live a long time! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May people always pray for him. May they ask the LORD to bless him all day long.16May there be plenty of corn everywhere in the land. May it sway in the wind on the tops of the hills. May the crops grow well, like those in Lebanon. May they grow like the grass of the field.17May the king’s name be remembered for ever. May his fame last as long as the sun shines. Then all nations will be blessed because of him. They will call him blessed.18Give praise to the LORD God, the God of Israel. Only he can do wonderful things.19Give praise to his glorious name for ever. May his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, end here.
Psalm 72
English Standard Version
Give the King Your Justice
1Of Solomon. Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! (1Ch 22:12; Ps 127:1)2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! (Ps 122:5; Isa 9:7; Isa 11:2; Isa 32:1)3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! (Ps 85:10; Isa 32:17; Isa 52:7)4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!5May they fear you[1] while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! (Ps 72:7; Ps 72:17; Ps 89:4; Ps 89:36; Jer 31:35; Jer 33:20; Jer 33:25; Lu 1:33)6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! (De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Job 5:10; Ps 65:10; Ho 6:3; Am 7:1)7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! (Ps 92:12; Isa 2:4; Eph 2:14)8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River[2] to the ends of the earth! (Ex 23:31; 1Ki 4:21; 1Ki 4:24; Ps 2:8; Ps 80:11; Ps 89:25; Zec 9:10)9May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! (Ps 22:29; Isa 49:23; Mic 7:17)10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! (Ge 10:7; 1Sa 10:27; 1Ki 10:1; 1Ki 10:22; Ps 68:29; Isa 42:10; Isa 42:12; Isa 43:3; Isa 45:14; Isa 51:5; Isa 60:9)11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! (Isa 49:7; Isa 49:23)12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. (Job 29:12)13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. (2Ki 1:13; Ps 116:15)15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! (De 9:20; 1Ki 10:10)16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! (Job 5:25; Ps 92:7)17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! (Ge 12:3; Ge 18:18; Ge 22:18; Ge 26:4; Ps 89:36; Ps 104:31; Lu 1:48)18Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. (Ex 15:11; Job 5:9; Ps 41:13; Ps 77:14; Ps 86:10; Ps 136:4)19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Nu 14:21; Ne 9:5; Ps 41:13)20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. (2Sa 23:1; Ps 17:1; Ps 55:1; Ps 86:1)